A/N I don't own the power rangers or any of the plots that can be found in this story however anything that is unrecognisable does belong to me. Again just to refresh people's minds the beginning in italics is the end of the last chapter.
One thing I forgot to do last time. Thanks to Fallingstar22 for adding my story to story alerts and a massive thanks for being my first reviewer! Thanks to the others who had added me as a favourite and to author alerts as well.
Power Rangers: Shift in Time
Chapter 4- Back in Colour
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Once everyone had left the Juice Bar, Kendrix and Maya followed. But they weren't more than five steps out the door when white light surrounded both of them, and they vanished.
When the girls felt their feet touch the ground, they opened their eyes and looked around, trying to determine where they had teleported to. They stood in a dark room, with a dense fog swirling around their feet that moved with them as they walked. Strange lights flashed around the room, but it was dark despite them. In front of the two girls there were four pillars with multicolored flashing lights, and a stone that glowed through every colour in the rainbow.
"Where are we?" Asked Kendrix, looking around.
"I have no idea," answered Maya, grabbing Kendrix's hand. In the corner between two of the pillars, Dimitria appeared.
"Welcome back, friends. I have brought you here because you are an important part of a ceremony that will be happening shortly. Tonight, we say goodbye to two of the Rangers, and they have chosen you two to take their place. In a few minutes the Turbo Rangers will be joining us, as well as a few old friends."
Hearing footsteps, Kendrix and Maya turned to see Kat and Tanya walk in. It was Kat who spoke first.
"Tanya and I are going to be leaving the team, and we've chosen you two to take our places, Kendrix as the Pink Ranger, and Maya as Yellow."
Maya and Kendrix looked at each other, unsure what to do or even say. Neither one of them had come to Angel Grove with even the idea of becoming Rangers again; in fact, Maya had meant to return to Mirinoi as soon as Kendrix was able to sorted things out. Both girls stood rooted to the spot in shock. Finally, Kendrix broke the awkward silence.
"I'm honoured that you chose me to take you place, Katherine, but I am afraid I can't. I need to focus on getting Maya and myself back to our time, and who knows what damage us becoming Rangers would do to the future?"
"Yeah, we need to get back home. We can't stay here any longer than necessary," added Maya. Kat and Tanya exchanged a dismayed look.
"Why us, and why now?" Kendrix asked.
"I am going to be leaving for London soon to join the Royal Academy of Dance. This is a big opportunity for me, and while I don't want to quit being a Ranger, this isn't something I can turn down and pick up later. This could be my only chance," Kat said. "You're both veteran Rangers; you could do the best job. I'm really sorry to put you on the spot like this, but there isn't anyone else I can get."
"And I'm going to take on a bigger role in the radio studio. I need to be available to go in regularly, and I can't leave in the middle of the day to fight monsters. This job is something I have always wanted to do, so I accepted the offer," added Tanya. Maya bit her lip.
"I can understand your concerns, but right now, time is of the essence, and this transfer must happen tonight. You two have the courage and experience needed to take over, and would fit well into the team. Altering the future is hardly uncommon for a Power Ranger, however, if you like, once this transfer is complete you can begin to search for two people who would be suitable replacements," Dimitria said. "I ask you again to consider this offer."
Seeing that Kendrix and Maya wanted to talk privately, Kat and Tanya went over to Dimitria. Maya pulled Kendrix into a far corner, and looked her friend in the eye.
"Kendrix, we were just going home," she pleaded.
"They need us," Kendrix replied. She grasped Maya's shoulders. "We've been chosen again. It doesn't have to be permanent, but I think we're supposed to do this."
Slowly, Maya nodded, and the two turned back to the others.
"Yes. We accept the power on a temporary basis, until we can find a suitable replacement," answered Kendrix. Kat and Tanya were visibly relieved. Dimitria returned to the upper chamber.
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"Have you seen any of the girls recently?" Adam asked, looking at Tommy and Rocky across the Juice Bar table.
"No. They're not answering their communicators," Rocky replied. He frowned. "The weird thing is, Maya and Kendrix are gone too. One second they were here, Ernie saw them, and the next they're gone. Divatox's schemes again?"
"I don't know," Tommy said, resting his elbows on the table and frowning in worry. "If it is Divatox, I think she'd let us know by now." Suddenly, his communicator beeped, and they all jumped.
"Tommy here," the Red Ranger said quickly. Dimitria's voice came through the watch.
"Will you and the other Rangers come to the Power Chamber at once? Time is of the essence."
Exchanging confused looks, Tommy and the other Rangers slipped into a back room, where they would not be seen, and teleported out. Arriving in the Power Chamber, they were greeted by Tanya and Kat.
"There you two are! We've been searching all over Angel Grove for you," said Adam.
"Sorry, but we had to help Alpha and Dimitria get things ready for the ceremony," replied Tanya.
"What ceremony?" Asked Tommy.
"Kat and Tanya will pass their powers on to two people whom they have deemed as worthy to become part of this team," answered Dimitria. Rocky's jaw dropped, Adam looked at his teammates in shock, and Tommy flinched as if he'd been slapped.
Yet again, someone he had fallen for was leaving, and maybe she too would find someone new and forget him. Tommy wasn't sure if he could go through that again. Why did he have to keep doing this to himself?
Then he felt someone take his hand, and realised that Kat was standing in front of him. Gently, she pulled him away from the rest of the group, who were peppering Dimitria and Tanya with questions.
"Tommy, I know what you're thinking, and I want you to know now that I would never hurt you like that. I saw how much Kim's letter hurt you. I love you so much, and you mean more to me than anything in the world."
Kat stood on her toes so that she was level with Tommy, and kissed him passionately. At first, he didn't return it, but then her words sunk in and he kissed her back. When they broke the kiss, he hugged her close, lifting her up slightly.
"I love you too Kitty Kat," he whispered in her ear. Kat laughed a little. Suddenly, they remembered that they were not alone, and that their friends were watching them. They both pulled away, slightly embarrassed, but when they turned around, the others could see that Tommy and Kat were holding hands. Somehow, nobody felt like teasing them about it. Tommy and Kat walked back to the others, and Dimitria began to speak again.
"It is time for the ceremony to begin. Alpha, please lead the Rangers to the lower room."
"You got it Dimitria. You guys follow me." Alpha 6 sounded unusually quiet, almost apprehensive.
The Rangers followed Alpha down to the lower chamber. It was very dark down there, and it took a few minutes for their eyes to adjust to the darkness. Once they could see, they saw the colour-changing stone and the flashing pillars. The five Rangers stood in a line, and Dimitria addressed them again.
"We are just waiting for two people to arrive, and then we can begin." In the corner between the second set of pillars Zordon appeared, along with Alpha 5. All of the Rangers were surprised, Rocky rather loudly.
"Zordon, Alpha?" Called Tommy, amazed.
"It is nice to see you again, Rangers, and to be here to witness this event," rumbled Zordon. Dimitria took over again smoothly.
"There comes a time in every person's life for big decisions, and Katherine and Tanya have reached this time. They have been offered opportunities to move onto the next stage of their lives, and they must put some things behind them. Now we must say goodbye to them, and we wish them luck, but we also must welcome the two people who were chosen to take their place. I give you the new Pink and Yellow Rangers."
At these words, a bright light lit up before the group, and out of it stepped Maya and Kendrix. Maya wore the Yellow Ranger suit, and Kendrix the Pink. Kat stepped forwards, facing Kendrix.
"Kendrix Morgan, I have chosen you as the new Pink Ranger. Your brilliant mind and willingness to put others before yourself are the perfect qualities that will make you an excellent Pink Ranger. I am happy to choose you to take my place, and I know you will do a good job." Then Tanya came forward, and stood in front of Maya.
"Maya, I have chosen you to be the new Yellow Ranger. It is your understanding of the world around you, and your courage in the face of danger, that are the qualities which make you the perfect person to take my place as the Yellow Ranger. I feel safe leaving these powers in your hands, because I know you will use them for others and never yourself."
After Tanya finished, Maya and Kendrix looked at each other, and smiled. They walked over to the other Rangers, and were greeted warmly, if a bit awkwardly. Kat went back over to Tommy and took his hand. She reached up and kissed him in the cheek. Turning to her, he smiled, and then swiped at his eyes with the back of his free hand. He was going to miss Kat while she was away, but he planned on calling her every day until she finished and could come back to Angel Grove. This time his forgetfulness was not going to spoil it.
Tommy finally let go of Kat's hand, and walked over to Maya and Kendrix.
"Glad to have you guys," he said sincerely.
"Well, it looks like I won't be returning home for quite a while," joked Maya, though there was a sad note in her voice. Kendrix put a steadying hand on her shoulder.
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It was late in the day when Tommy and Kat went to their special place by the lake, where they had first kissed. The sun was low in the sky, and fireflies floated by in the gentle breeze, which rippled the lake before them. Tommy and Kat were enjoying what would be their last night together: in the morning, Kat would be leaving for the airport to fly to London. The sky was deep orange, and the two sat quietly be the lake, hands entwined and neither speaking, just watching the fireflies dance all round them. Kat was leaning on Tommy, her head resting on his shoulder and his on top of hers.
A peaceful sigh escaped Kat's lips, breaking the silence around them. Tommy raised his head and kissed Kat on the top of hers; she looked up at him and smiled. Sitting up, Tommy pulled a long black box out of his pocket, and handed it to Kat. Inside it lay a new, shiny communicator watch.
"I asked Alpha to make a pair so that we could stay in touch with you and Tanya, in case of an emergency." Tommy fastened it around Kat's wrist.
"Thanks, Tommy. Now I'll always have my knight in red armour to protect me," she whispered in his ear.
"As if you needed protecting," Tommy replied with a chuckle. He settled back down, and tried to enjoy the view of the changing sky, but his mind would not let him relax. He kept being reminded that this would be the last time they would sit together like this, for who knows how long. Kat suddenly slid an arm around him.
"You're thinking about Kim again, aren't you?" She asked. He tried to speak, but there was a lump in his throat, and he knew he'd sound raspy and weepy if he tried, so he just nodded.
"Look, I know how hard this must be for you. I can understand that you're worried that now that I'm moving, I will find someone else. Tommy, there is no one who could possibly replace you in my life, ever."
"I know," Tommy said, not sounding convinced. Sitting up straight, Kat looked him in the eye and spoke.
"Tommy Oliver, you trusted me with your life when I was Ranger, but now you won't trust me with your heart?"
Tommy just hugged her until he knew he wasn't going to start crying like a little girl, then kissed her. Putting his arm around her shoulder, the two of them sat and watched the stars twinkle in the night sky.
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